The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-05-27

l Sth u NOh ts
A step was heard. "Yes," Mrs
Pritchard continued, "the spring i
backward, an it do peer like tn,
seasons is gittin' slower an slowe
every year. Wy, come in. Mr.. Rob
ertson. Didn't low yer WIZ on the
place. Lowed yer WIZ out saunterin
roun' summers. Martha give Mr.
Robertson er cheer. 1 clar ter good
ness. girls amt got no raisin' thes'
days"
"You still persist in regarding me a
company" said Robertson, seatin:
himself.
"Yes. an putty good conp'ny, too
when yer feel like talkin'," the girl re
piled.
I'll be bound fur you." said the oil
lady, getting up. "Wal," she added
"reckon I'd better see erbout gittin
NV er snack ter eat"
"rll git it, maw."
mo, I'm erbleeged ter yer" (givins
the girl significant look) II druthe,
do it myself. fur 1 feel like stirrin'
round er little"
When the widow had left the room
Robertson, turning to the girl, re
marked:
II think that I've found a good fish
ing place, away over here in a small
stream running down from the hills. =
That's Oak Fork" Martha replied
"Good fishing. 1 SUPPOSED"
Il reckon So"
suppose We go over this after
nOOn."
"Wall, ef mother III let me-"
At the dinner table the old lady:
permission was asked. She hesitated
automatically, and said with solemn
pleonasm that she ''didn't reckon thai
would be no harm in it."
As they walked in the woods, vel
vety and green in welcome to the com
ing of May, Robertson said:
"Don't you think. Martha, that thu
length of time we have been acquainted
warrants you in talking to me more
than you do?"
She looked at him. and then. with ar
effort to drive away tender appeal
which shone in her eyes. replied:
Il thought that l talked ter yer Ell
good 'eal."
"But you don't"
II will, then. Whut must I say"'
looking up with smile that made her
face radiant.
'Any thing"
"Wall, then, any thing"
They both laughed; and he caught
her hand mischievously. declaring that
he would lead her back home. Had
the love she bore him shown itself in
her eyes, he would, at that moment,
have thrown his arms around her. He
loved her. His judgment arose against
it; he had thought every hour of her
lack of education, but he loved her.
Il could excuse her ignorance il she
only had the least bit of sentiment, of
something that bespeaks a warm heart
and largeness of SOUL" he had often
argued deep within himself; "but she
has nothing except that unaccountable
power that has bewitched me. l will
60 away tomorrow" The next day
he had studied her with the penetra-
ton of still deeper yearning and had
sworn. ut night that he would 60
away tomorrow; but tho days glided
on and the buds on the dahlia bushes
in the yard unfolded and were leaved.
II will 60 tomorrow" he had sworn
again. "She is nothing; a painting by
a master. but there is no generous
warmth about her. I will go to-mor-
row if God spares my life" The eggs
in the bluebird's nest were Matched.
and the young birds twittered in the
honeysuckle's shade but the young
man had not gone.
They sat on the bank of the stream.
This is a beautiful spot" he said.
YES" she replied.
Il WONDER" he said, with excusable
scntimentality, ''if that mountain is
weeping and that this stream is its
flood of tears.
Il don't know" she replied, throw
ing a pebble into the water.
As they walked toward home he
unused: Il will go away tomorrow if
the Lord spares my life
The bloom fell from the peach trees.
the pea-vines had been stuck" but
still he fingered.
MARTHA" said the widow, one day
when Robertson had gone out alone,
Il don't b'leve-befo' Their Lawd
don't b'leve-that thar's er bit NV use
in talkin' ter yer"
ssWhat or bOut. maW3" 80